296 Plant-Breeding 



sion of organic evolution. In fact, it was on such experi- 

 ments that Darwin drew heavily in some of his most 

 important writing. Roughly speaking, however, the 

 conception that the kinds of plants can be definitely modi- 

 fied and varied by man is a product of the last half century. 

 We now think that there is such a possibility as plant- 

 breeding. It is really a more modern conception, so far 

 as its general acceptance is concerned, than animal- 

 breeding. But both animal-breeding and plant-breeding 

 are the results of a new attitude toward the forms of 

 life a conviction that the very structure, habits, and 

 attributes are amenable to change and control by man. 

 This is really one of the great new attitudes of the modern 

 world. 



The term plant-breeding itself is new. It occurs only 

 in the most recent supplements of dictionaries. Before this 

 term came into use, such words as " improvement " and 

 " amelioration " of plants were employed, although cross- 

 breeding had long been current. The early writings of 

 Verlot and Carriere were under the title of " production 

 and fixation of varieties of plants." The term plant- 

 breeding carries the conception of a definite purpose in the 

 producing of new forms and attributes of plants, by cross- 

 ing, selection, and whatever other means may be useful. 



One of the " signs of the times" in North America is the 

 attention that is being given to the practical breeding of 

 plants. A host of persons is actually at work. There 

 are professorships devoted to the subject. Many societies 

 are giving special attention to the practical improvement 

 of plants. Results are accumulating rapidly with very 

 many kinds of plants, and the literature is growing rapidly. 



